STEMTera (Black)

$45.00

$45.00

The STEMTera is an innovation in breadboard history. It is the first breadboard with an Arduino-compatible hardware suite built in that works with thousands of shields. With ATmega32U2 pins exposed, native USB projects can be easily developed using the LUFA framework. The STEMTera also features a LEGO® brick-compatible bottom that empowers projects to be built beyond imagination. This version of the STEMTera is housed in a durable black ABS plastic enclosure.

Since the STEMTera is a development board built directly into a breadboard, it eliminates the need for messy wires to be strewn about your work space. By having two microcontrollers built inside the breadboard, it provides direct access to the ATmega328P’s I/O pins. With the 21 I/O pins of the ATmega32U2 exposed, users will be able to develop native USB projects with ease. These extra I/O pins can work directly with the LUFA framework without having a middleman to translate messages as with the original Arduino UNO. Additionally, the STEMTera is pin-to-pin compatible with an Arduino UNO R3 shield and supports multiple IDEs, including: Atmel® Studio, Arduino IDE, AVR-GCC, AVR-GCC with LUFA, Scratch and more!

The STEMTera even has a LEGO-compatible 10x14 bottom cover that enables LEGO bricks to be connected directly into the breadboard without using special mounting techniques or adapters.

Default Drivers?

last updated
about 2 years ago

Testing the STEMTera™ board and viewing it in the device manager, it looks like the ATmega16U2/ATmega32U2s use the USB-to-Serial drivers like the Arduino Uno. You will need to install the drivers as indicated here => [ https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoUno#toc3 ]. If an Arduino Uno's driver is already installed, your computer should automatically install and recognize the board. Plugging the board into my computer, the STEMTera™ was recognized the as the Arduino Uno and the drivers from memory worked.

Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

2Programming

Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

2Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
See all skill levels

Interesting idea, but it would be nice if the '328 were a socketed hole-through chip, rather than an SMD. That way, if you burn out the '328 -- an all too common event when tinkering or developing a project -- it's a simple $4 fix, rather than having to throw out a $45 project board.

If blowing out micro-controllers is a common occurrence with you you might try watching some videos on YouTube about electronics and Arduinos. It isn't rocket-surgery and the amount of resources on the web today for noob electronics people is astounding. I've been tinkering with Arduino for 7 years and have never nuked a single component (at east not accidentally :-), much less an Arduino.

It's for prototyping. It makes perfect sense. Besides, if the product takes off, as I suspect it will, an IC version could be offered for us who like to teach 6, 7 and 8 year olds that they can do what an Electrical Engineer with a 4 year degree from a prominent university can do. Yet, in that process, mistakes are made, things are forgotten, code is wrong, jumpers short out as well as many other accidents that can damage the poor little micro. Shit happens. We're only human. Unless your member /#432989, then your perfect and nothing wrong happens. Must be nice. :))

The serial bridge is EITHER a 16u2 or a 32u2. Apparantly some of the boards have a 16u2 instead of the more spacious 32u2, perhaps they are older or there was trouble sourcing enough 32u2. That is why they mention both of them (I think).

So when you buy this you get one with either a 328P+16u2 or 328P+32u2... or there may be just a typo.

I was going to say look at the kickstarter or product page, but just looked again, and the kickstarter page refers to there being a 16u2 in one pllace and the 32u2 elsewhere.. I suspect they started out with a 16u2 and migrated to the 32u2, but am just supposing. damn

Please accept my apology for the confusion.The project started with a Developers' Edition that has 328P+16u2, a batch of these were sent to the early adopters. As the funding increased to a level, the Production Units have been upgraded to 328P+32u2.

All SparkFun's STEMTera Breadboard are the upgraded version with 328P+32u2. Hope this clarifies the confusion.

can the case be safely opened to get to the board inside, or is the casing permanently or semi-permanently sealed or glued closed?
Some may ask why, answer is cause i wanna, i like seeing inside the little black boxes :-)

It's a good idea, but I don't get the price. I mean this is just an arduino mashed up with a breadboard. I could buy both of those for like $6 from China (maybe not the highest quality, but still, if I want to go for the best name brand stuff, $30 and still saving a lot).

There's reasons for the price, mainly it's this much because it's brand new. As you get more and more produced, then the price can come down. I just got mine in the mail from the KS, and I believe it worked out to about $35/ea.

Two gripes.
1: The SMT versions of the atmega328 have 8 analog inputs, but only 5 of them are used on the arduino. In a new design why not bring these pins out someplace, extend the Arduno footprint a bit.
2: Atmel now has a pin compatible upgrade, the atmega328B with TWO usarts, TWO spi interfaces, and TWO I2C interfaces. Plus the usarts can be used in SPI mode (so you have FOUR of them). True some pins are used in multiple ways so you can't use all of these things at the same time. Why not use this part in new designs?

You mention it works with 1000's of shields but I don't see the typical header layout on this breadboard. You know, the one with the single set of pins .05 off from the others so you can't plug it into a traditional breadboard.

If you look carefull at the rows of headers to the right of the logo and leds on the breadboard (opposite of the reset button and between the actual breadboard and power rails) you can recognize the typical arduino layout. Even the little offset between the 2 headers (d1-d7 and d8-scl) is there.

It is a bit hard to see at a glance, but yeah it is indeed compattible. It really is mostly a arduino with a breadboard around it and having also the serial bridge's IO pins broken out.

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Great concept "comma but"

Ok, I pre-ordered this thing because it's basically what I want to use in teaching non-technical artists physical computing. I've been working with Arduino since 2006 or so and this is one of the best concepts I've seen teaching.

"comma but" it loses a point for what should be a trivial manufacturing defect. (I come from consumer electronics where we sold millions of devices with USB ports...)

The micro USB connector is flaky as hell on mine. I have to wiggle it just right to get a working connection. I've tried every micro USB cable I can find and they all work the same -- prop the STEMTera up on something then wiggle/support the cord until there's a good connection.

2 of 3 found this helpful:

Good Marriage, However...

I got it on time. Worked out-of-box. Plugged in a 1Sheeld+ and proceeded to use my Nexus sensors. Way Cool.
But, I was wondering about something. How about getting rid of the second controller and using the space for internal Lipo's with 5v or 3v toggle and rechargeable circuitry on board. Then it's a real "Unplug-N-Go" project. Or standalone as some might say.
In any case, I like it.

By the way, what IS the real purpose of having that second controller anyway??? Am I missing something???

UPDATE:

Found it... LUFA (Lightweight USB Framework for AVRs) Good stuff to know. Check'm out below.

Another quick thought as to its use. Like I did. Make it talk to the kids cellphone. That will get their attention and hold on to it. HEY!!! Put a Simblee as the second processor... Yeah, that's the ticket!!!

UPDATE:

Tried to plug in my 2.8'' TFT Touch Shield v2.0. NO GO!!! Yikes, I didn't consider the ICSP header. The TFT has the female header but the male header pins normally found on the UNO are not available NOR considered into the form-factor of the breadboard. Interesting.

Great product

Worked right from the beginning. I didn't need to install anything, just selected it as an Arduino Uno in the compiler and it uploaded perfectly. I would like it if it used mini USB instead of micro USB since I am so used to the RedBoard, but otherwise I really like it

A good tool but I'm a little mad 😡

The product itself is well made and a good tool. But I'm a little mad because I had the exact same idea to combine a breadboard and a microcontroller and encase it with ABS. I had this idea awhile ago, and I regret not pursuing it. I can now see how successful the idea is. But as a product itself, it is very useful and well made.

Really convenient taking work on the road

I do a lot of device interfacing in the field and this is a great device for quickly hooking into sensors and checking things out. I have three and will likely buy more as I keep finding more uses for them.

Motivated me to develope prototype for patent idea from 7 years ago

First time Arduino user that found the sweet spot to easily develop a prototype of an automotive industry safety improvement idea I have had for over 7 years, That said, the cost for a basic breadboard and Arduino compatible platform is pretty high. So I will continue to use it for quick developments and have purchased a $9 Arduino to build the final prototype model for use in my demos.

In 2003, CU student Nate Seidle fried a power supply in his dorm room and, in lieu of a way to order easy replacements, decided to start his own company. Since then, SparkFun has been committed to sustainably helping our world achieve electronics literacy from our headquarters in Boulder, Colorado.

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